Further review of S.A. tour

Press, 8 February 1986, Page 80

Further review of S.A. tour

NZPA special carrespondent Apla, Western Samoa Tbe Western Samoan Rugby Union will examine all ramifications of a proposed tour of South Africa before accepting the arrangements of a Sydney sports promoter, David Lord. At its annual general meeting, held in camera on Thursday evening, the union agreed to consider letters from the Prime Minister, Vaal Kolone, and the president of the island’s sports federation, Seiuii Wallwork, before any decision is made. The Prime Minister

has written to the union asking it to reconsider its decision to send a national team to the republic, saying: “Western Samoa stands staunchly opposed to apartheid and supportive of international action to bring down apartheid in South Africa.”

Vaal Kolone reminded the union that his Government was obliged under the Gleneagles Agreement to discourage the tour. “Western Samoa is proud to be bound by the Gleneagles Agreement and will honour its commitments under it,” he said. £

Mr Wallwork told the union his federation will take a firm stand against the tour. The federation regretted the union’s plan to tour which would only serve to justify South Africa’s “abhorrent” political system. The tour would also jeopardise the. federation’s efforts to obtain foreign assistance foro sport in Samoa, he said. He said the union would be expelled from the federation if the tour went ahead. The Deputy Prime Minister, Tupuola Efl, president of the rugby

union, told NZPA that he had made his opposition to the tour clear at Thursday evening’s meeting. “I told them in no uncertain terms that I’m opposed,” Tupuola said. “What makes it even worse is that I’m the one who signed the Gleneagles Agreement” Tupuola was Prime Minister when the agreement was signed. He said the union had now resolved to examine all aspects of the tour and will meet with the Prime Minister before any further decision is made.